Check around your area for a "Mom & Pop" computer shop. They can build whatever you want at pretty good prices and have much better service than Best Buy or other big box stores.

I'd avoid Alienware or any other "Boutique" sellers. Biggest rip-offs around.

Building computers is easy. >.>

All you need to do is make sure everything you get is compatible with each other, and keep yourself grounded against static while you work.

that being said, if you really can't build your own, as Grimdango said a local computer store could be a good option, just be aware you'll likely pay a fair amount for them to custom build it, because they have to buy all the parts, and they lack the buying power of massive chain stores.


You can try NewEgg http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=10&name=Desktop-PCs
Or Tiger Direct http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=1307

These two are honestly just as bad as big-box stores, but have a better selection. Tiger Direct even offers 'build to order' PCs, which allows you to play around more with what you want.

If that fails too, and you have to hit a big box, I would suggest Best Buy. Their staff usually seems to know something about computers. Also don't impulse buy, shop around, look and compare what's available, and get user reviews.

I often times get a bare bones system from Tigerdirect, then add on whatever else it is that I need for my system. Typically a lot more efficient than buying through an integrator.

If you want to save money you'd have to do some research. Check SlickDeals regularly to find some nice ones from some of the major US retailers, some of which can be dirt cheap.

Anyone know a place like alienware, but much cheaper?

OK, I'll let you in on a secret about computer buying.

A custom rig is more expensive.
And if it's a 'gaming rig' it's even more expensive.

Most computer retailers, like Dell, Gateway etc. will do made to order PCs, that you can put the stats on them for gaming. No place is a rig build for gaming going to be cheap though, because the hardware you 'need' for gaming, is not cheap.

As a heads up, AlienWare is owned by Dell, too.. >.>

See "cyberpowerfucked"

If you must buy commercially-made, Acer and Dell are the least bad, which does not mean good. HP/Compaq and Gateway/eMachines are much worse.

Similarly, there are no good major integrators for desktop systems. CyberPowerPC and iBUYPOWER (which often raise suspicions that they are really the same company) are one step above awfulness.

If you must have a computer built for you, get a local computer shop or a friend who knows what he's doing to build it for you.

But if you're going to be in this for the long haul, learning to build your own is a Very Good Thing.

I hate to echo the suggestions, but everyone is right, building your own PC is the way to go. However, there are some great gaming laptops from Asus that are reasonably priced. I have an Asus G73 that I paid $1300 for brand new and it runs great. I hear the newer ones with the Nvidia cards are even better. They run ArmA II and Crysis at relatively high settings without any real problems. The problem is you are restricted to the size of the screen. This is a 17" Widescreen, and I'm used to 22" widescreen.

Going for a gaming desktop from a retailer is always going to cost you way more. Alienware (Dell), Falcon NW, Voodoo, even ibuypower will all run you way more than you could build yourself. Remember: You are looking for a specialty PC, which means increased price.

That being said, if you want a good middle ground, buy a barebones PC from someplace like Fry's or Newegg. They usually come with a case, mobo, ram, etc. pre-built. All you do is add your HDD's and video card and you are set. Otherwise, dish out a fortune for a gaming rig from a company.

Cyberpower and IBuyPower have some decent builds, at criminally low prices.

Well, this sounds like the place to ask but....

I am currently looking at buying this:
**********************************************************
This is the computer. Alienware M18X

Online Price $6,453.101

THIS PRICE INCLUDES THE UPGRADES

Style
Nebula Red Anodized Aluminum
Avatar - Alienhead 3D
Wallpaper - Alienhead 3D
Build My Dell
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit (English)
Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
AU1-Year Premier Service
Onsite help in your home, by Gizmo
McAfee(R) Security Center - 15 Months Version
18.4" (46.74cm) Full HD (1920 x 1080) WLED LCD panel
16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM (4x4GB)
1.5TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive (750GBx2)(Raid 0)
Slot Load Fixed Blu-ray BD-ROM / DVD + /-RW Combo Drive
Dual 1.5GB DDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M
Accessorise My Dell
Microsoft® Office Starter 2010: reduced-functionality Word & Excel w/ads. No PowerPoint or Outlook
Also Includes
AlienFX AQUA
Back cover
Alienware Generic Nameplate
U510432AU-Avenger (M18X)
No carrying case
Steam Gaming Portal Software
LTO 1
12-cell Primary Battery
Intel Wireless 6300 for APCC
Dell Wireless 375 Bluetooth Internal mini-card
AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard (English)
Power Cord with 330W Adapter(ANZ)
NB-OL-CTO Handling and Insurance charges(Australia)
System Documentation (English)
AULaptop Batteries Carry 1 Year Warranty Only From Invoice Date
AUDell's Terms and Conditions apply
System Drivers
System Media Kit
Directship Info Mod
Adobe Reader X
DataSafe Local Basic
Alienware Command Center
WinRE software
Tech Sheet (ANZ)
5 User-programmable keys
3.0 Megapixel HD Video and Picture Camera with dual digital microphones
Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Technical Support

THE UPGRADES:

Intel® Core™ i7-2920XM Overclocked Turbo Boost to 4.0GHz (8MB Cache) [add $860.20 or $10/week-1]
It may sound excessive but the faster the CPU chip is, the faster I can boot up the computer and start programs - reducing the time I need to spend on the screen as well as reducing the time I waste as well as other people's showing them stuff that I need to convey/communicate my idea or the situation.

AU3-Year Premier Service [add $192.50 or $2/week-1]
Dell Recommended
Warranty.

512GB Solid State Drive(256GBX2)(Raid0) [add $1,240.80 or $13/week-1]
A SSD basically makes the hard drive super fast which reduces the time it takes for videos to load.

Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6970M - AMD CrossFireX™ [add $149.60 or $1/week-1]
To watch videos and use webcam as well as make videos that explain what I intend to do as quickly and efficiently as possible to reduce the time I spend in front of a monitor - you NEED the best graphic cards possible.

Internal High-Definition 5.1 Performance Audio with SoundBlaster X-Fi Audio [add $11.00 or $1/week-1]
Sometimes there will be times when another hearing person needs to show me something or communicate a concept and audio will be needed. If I am doing this in a professional environment then it is a courtesy to give them good audio.
**********************************************************

The reason I'm getting the most OTT and crazy laptop is I'm getting some money from the government to pay some of this and I need it to do Premiere Pro and video editing/rendering on the run. I want it to last at least five years in which time it will have more than paid itself off.

I totally agree with building your own computer but you can't do that with laptops - I need a laptop. Thus me going fuck it and going mental.

Please note this is Alienware AUSTRALIA so if you want to look at the specs yourself remember to add com.au

So yep, any suggestions? Any cheaper and just as good alternatives? It'd be good to save a few dollars but I don't want to compromise on quality.

Sager/Clevo will deliver almost the same computer for maybe half the price. Sager NP8170 differs only in that you cannot get dual GPUs for it: you get a single nVidia 560M or 485M. The 485M is a lot better than one 460M or 560M and almost as good as two 460M's in SLI.

SLI and Crossfire performance is unpredictable, and you can't use the second GPU in both SLI/Crossfire and GPU computing at the same time. I would not consider it a desirable feature, unless you are proposing to run specific applications that you already know are optimized for it.

Of course, if you're spending Somebody Else's Money, do as you like. If it's government money, it's bad form to then turn around and kvetch about your taxes.

Seriously newegg. I build my own and my first one caught fire (the real kind, with sparks and flaming plastic) due to a faulty power supply. That didn't scare me off what's your excuse?

With that said, if you just must buy one, buy a Dell, swap in a nVidia card, done, decent gaming rig. Try and take advantage of the free XBox 360 deal by spending at least 699 USD.

I was reading a thread on Cnet about Ibuypower reviews and a guy who was telling his bad experience with them recommended a company called Ironside. Their site is ironsidecomputers.com. Has anyone used them before?

Works in theory except you never know when a company is going to fix cards in so you can't remove them. Years ago I opened a Compaq someone I knew had and I saw that the video card and sound card had been soldered or something into place. You couldn't remove it without destroying the mobo.